Call for Participants: Creative Methods for Researching Urban Infrastructures Workshop

Thursday 28th and Friday 29th March 2019, The University of Manchester

The “Creative Methods for Researching Urban Infrastructures” workshop seeks to explore methods of inquiry that disrupt, challenge, and expand dominant modes of understanding urban infrastructures. The workshop will provide postgraduate and early career researchers with the opportunity to identify, develop, and test creative and innovative methods for analysing urban infrastructural systems.

In this participant-led workshop, participants will work together over two days to explore different creative research methods. Participants will be first introduced to a selection of relevant innovative and collaborative methods by speakers who have employed a wide variety of research techniques in their own work. They will subsequently work in small groups to trial methods for understandings infrastructural systems in central Manchester (e.g. waste management, sanitation, transport, electricity, communications). After piloting the methods, groups will share their experiences and findings.

By bringing together researchers across different fields of study, this workshop seeks to work towards more interdisciplinary, inclusive, and innovative approaches to urban infrastructural research.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Alan Latham, University College London
• Helen Holmes, The University of Manchester
• Morag Rose, The University of Liverpool
• Sue Heath, The University of Manchester

There is no cost for the workshop itself. Some funding is available for travel and accommodation, which will be offered on a discretionary basis to participants who would otherwise be unable to attend.

If you're interested in taking part in this workshop, please complete this form by Friday, the 9th of December 2018.

All applicants will be notified by the 19th of December 2018. Please note, spaces are limited so we may have to select participants on the basis of research interests and compatibility with the workshop topics and themes.

The workshop will take place at the University of Manchester on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th March 2019. The workshop is generously supported by Methods NW, the Manchester Urban Institute, and colleagues at the University of Manchester and Lancaster University.

Organising Committee: Cecilia Alda Vidal, Lourdes Alonso Serna, Amy Barron, Torik Holmes, Harriet Larrington-Spencer, Sarah Phinney, Kathleen Stokes.

For more information contact Kathleen Stokes (kathleen.stokes(at)manchester.ac.uk) or Torik Holmes (t.holmes(at)lancaster.ac.uk).